Category: Privacy

  • Android’s hidden trackers

    Android’s hidden trackers

    I think it’s old news by now that your smart phone tracks you. Advertising companies and government agencies both want to get their hands on as much information about you as they can, for various reasons. But how much information does your phone leak about you and to whom? Apple provides transparency reports and even…

  • The “new normal”

    The “new normal”

    With the Covid-19 pandemic seemingly under control in the developed world, many people are aching for relief of social distancing restrictions. People want to meet each other again, go out and go on vacation. However, the virus isn’t gone so many governments insist on certain measures for the expected return to normal. Societies prepare for…

  • WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal?

    WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal?

    There are many instant messaging solutions available these days. A quick browse of the Google Play Store or the Apple store gives me Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Facebook Messenger, Signal, Viber, Google Meet and a slew of others. So which do you choose when you care about privacy and data security? For the purpose of this…

  • War on encryption

    War on encryption

    Every now and then, police or someone in government will complain that encryption is bad. The arguments are pretty much always the same: encryption is bad because it allows criminals to hide or because it enables terrorists to communicate without the intelligence agencies able to read along. Or, if all other arguments fail, it allows…

  • The Social Dilemma

    The Social Dilemma

    People who know me, know not to get me started on the dangers of using the internet. If you do make that mistake, you’ll get a string of cautions about using social media, how you are being tracked and profiled and how you are being sold. Even worse, you are manipulated without knowing it. However,…

  • A nightmare but also a chance

    A nightmare but also a chance

    As the current corona pandemic continues to claim victims, the pressure is on governments to do everything they can to stop it. To help prevent the spread of the virus, governments employ technology. That in itself is a good thing but there are also privacy concerns in the battle against corona. Once we get the…